spurt

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈspərt 

spurted; spurting; spurts

intransitive verb

: to gush forth : spout

Water spurted from the pipe.

transitive verb

: to expel in a stream or jet : squirt

The faucet spurts water.

spurt

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a sudden gush : jet

spurt

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: a short period of time : moment

2

a

: a sudden brief burst of effort, activity, or development

a spurt of work

a growth spurt

b

: a sharp or sudden increase in business activity

spurt

4 of 4

verb (2)

spurted; spurting; spurts

intransitive verb

: to make a spurt

Synonyms of spurt

Verb (1)

• pour
• rush
• stream

Noun (2)

• flurry
• burst
• outburst

Examples of spurt in a Sentence

Verb (1)

water spurted from the garden hose just as I was checking the nozzle

the pipe suddenly cracked and began spurting water

Noun (2)

a spurt of economic growth for the first quarter of the year

a sudden spurt of blood rushed out from the opened wound

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That date, nearly six months ago, was when the S&P 500 spurted higher to reach the 7500 level for the first time; the index has never reached escape velocity since and in fact crossed above 7500 again just yesterday. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2026

People in Crystal Lake are constantly being dispatched in ways that offer the most shredded flesh, spurting blood and oozing viscera possible. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026

Noun

Guard Isaiah Collier hit three straight threes for the Jazz to score the final nine points of that spurt. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026

At least until the last decade, public documents of Rolling Thunder’s two five-week spurts in 1975 and 1976 have been paltry and unsatisfying. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

perhaps akin to Middle High German spürzen to spit, Old English -sprūtan to sprout — more at sprout

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1570, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

1644, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1664, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spurt

• growth spurt

Rhymes for spurt

• blurt
• chert
• curt
• dirt
• flirt
• girt
• hurt
• peart
• pert
• shirt
• skirt
• squirt

Kids Definition

spurt

1 of 4 verb

ˈspərt 

1

: to pour out suddenly : spout

2

: squirt entry 1 sense 1

spurt

2 of 4 noun

: a sudden pouring out : jet

spurt

3 of 4 noun

1

: a short period of time : moment

2

: a brief burst of effort, activity, or development

a spurt of work

a growth spurt

spurt

4 of 4 verb

: to make a spurt